Austin Peay Sports Information

Memphis, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team had its chances, April 2nd at the Tiger Softball Complex against the University of Memphis, but while the Lady Tigers were able to put together three big innings the Lady Govs stranded 15 runners on base in the twinbill and came away with 9-1 and 8-5 losses.

Austin Peay Softball. (Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)

In Game 1, the Lady Govs (16-18) took advantage of three Memphis errors – including Courtney Brower scoring due to the final error – to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but couldn’t push across any more runs, while leaving the bases loaded.

But the Lady Tigers (15-20) got six of its first seven hitters on to open the bottom of the inning, plating five runs.

Georganna Goodwin drew a walk from Lady Govs starter Sidney Hooper to open the inning, followed by a double from Kelly Braman and back-to-back RBI singles from Ellen Roberts and Cierra Mangum to take a 2-1 lead.

A sacrifice bunt moved the two runners up into scoring position, followed by an RBI single from Lindsay Crowdus and Wheeler Hill.

The fifth run of the inning came in on a throwing error by Lady Govs second baseman Laurel Burroughs.

Those runs would be all that Roberts would need, as she limited the Lady Govs to just two hits – both by Christiana Gable – while struck out five and walked two.

The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Roberts collected her second RBI of the game to make it 6-1.

The Lady Tigers would end the game in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring three more runs, including an RBI single by Brittany Vaughn.

In Game 2, the start was almost a repeat of the opening game of the day, with the Lady Govs getting out to an early lead only to see Memphis answer back with a big inning.

Kayla Davidson would get the first inning going for Austin Peay by drawing a one-out walk and move to third base on a double by Mel Pavel.

Davidson would then come in on a wild pitch, while Pavel scored on a sacrifice fly by Vinchenza DiBenedetto to make it 2-0.

But Memphis answered back by scoring four runs, including two coming on a double by Goodwin, off Lady Govs Allie Blackwood – who was making her first career start — to go up 4-2.

Austin Peay would cut into the Lady Tigers lead in the second inning, with Brower scoring on a throwing error, but Memphis got the run back in the third inning on an RBI single by Braman.

Kristin Whitmire would get the Lady Govs back to within one run, 5-4, with her first home run of the season – off the scoreboard – in the top of the fourth inning, while Davidson tied the game 5-5 with an RBI double in the sixth.

Davidson and Pavel had two hits each to lead the Lady Govs.

Again the Lady Tigers would have a response, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning – highlighted by a two-run double by Jaye Smith.

Roberts would come in to pitch the seventh, setting the Lady Govs down in order, for her second save of the season.

Austin Peay returns to Cheryl Holt Field April 5th, as they start a nine-game homestand, with an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader versus Jacksonville State University.